TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Heather Faust, MMC, City Clerk
TITLE: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding City Commission Policy No. 2021-01: City Commission Travel Expense Policy and Consolidation of Commissioner Budgets for Expenses for Training Education and Travel and Per Diem (Requested by Commissioner McDowell).
Recommended Action
1. Amend City Commission Policy No. 2021-01: City Commission Travel Expense Policy to permit a Commissioner to combine their individual training and travel accounts, not to exceed the $9,200 budgeted threshold, without Commission approval.
2. Approve Commissioner McDowell's request to combine her individual training and travel accounts for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, not to exceed $9,200, following the standard training and travel funding/reimbursement procedures.
Background Information
During the City Commission Meeting held on February 9, 2021, the City Commission approved Policy 2021-01: Commission Travel Expense Policy. This Policy establishes Commissioner processes for budgeting and reimbursements for travel and training expenses. When the Commission approved the Policy, it was my understanding if we went over the total budget ($9,200), then we would need to get Commission approval for additional funding - not seek Commission approval for individual account overages.
My Training & Education (Account 55-03) has a yearly budget of $3,200; currently my balance is $1,114. My Travel & Per Diem (Account #40-03) has a yearly budget of $6,000; currently my balance is $777.70. I don't have enough in my travel budget for all the Florida League of Cities (FLC) Conference expenses. I've also held back in submitting my mileage for various committee meetings over the past few months. After conferring with the City Attorney and Finance, it is their recommendation to seek Commission approval to combine the two accounts. To be clear, I am not seeking approval for anything above the $9...
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